SAN DIEGO CHAPTER: 50 YEARS OF CELEBRATING
THE ART OF IKEBANA

The San Diego Chapter of Ikebana International celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018. These 50 years have been marked by a remarkable growth in the artistic achievements of chapter members, an increasing appreciation of the art of ikebana in the San Diego community, and a developing involvement by chapter members in sharing the art of ikebana through workshops, presentations, and involvement in community events.

CHAPTER BEGINNINGS

The chapter started in 1968 when a group of people, who were intrigued by the beauty of ikebana, formed the San Diego Chapter of Ikebana International. One of these founding members, Sadako Oehler, remains an active member of the San Diego chapter.

From its beginning, the chapter created great interest in ikebana in San Diego, as reports on television and articles in the newspaper appeared on a regular basis. The chapter’s early success was evidenced by a proclamation from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors proclaiming September 1969 as “Ikebana International Friendship Through Flowers Month” and the presentation in 1969 of a certificate honoring the chapter from the City of San Diego’s 200th Anniversary Committee.

ACTIVITIES IN BALBOA PARK

The chapter has been a visible and integral presence in the art scene of Balboa Park. From 1968 to 1971, the chapter met in the Floral Building (now part of the House of International Relations). On 17 November 1971, the chapter was the first organization to meet in the Casa del Prado after the building’s opening on 14 November 1971.

The chapter’s activities in Balboa Park include

Membership in the San Diego Botanical Garden Foundation, the umbrella group for floral and garden groups in Balboa Park

Annual flower shows

Annual Japanese-art cultural shows

Ikebana arrangements for the tokonomo display in the the Japanese Friendship Garden

Arrangements for the San Diego Museum of Art’s Art Alive exhibition

Donation of flowering trees

Financial donation to the Japanese Friendship Garden

Participation in Garden Party for the Century as part Balboa Park's Centennial Celebration

Participation in the Spotlight in Japan Cultural Fair

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

The chapter, individual schools, and members have actively participated in community events ranging from lessons for school children to presentations at garden clubs and the Del Mar Fair to assistance in times of natural disaster. For example:

A program on ikebana for grade-school children

Reseeding of an acre in in the San Diego’s back country after a wild fire

Participation in events such as the Oceanside Days of Art and the San Diego County Fair

Displays in the San Diego Botanic Garden

Arrangements for an event honoring a chapter member for her family’s role in protecting civil rights of the Japanese

Donations to the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas drive for children

CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

Ikebana

From its beginning, many schools of ikebana have been part of the San Diego chapter. The master teachers of these schools have provided workshops and demonstrations to educate chapter members about the practice of ikebana by the different schools. These schools include

Kofu

Ohara

Shogyoku

Shogetsudo Koryu

Ichiyo

Shigisan Shinka-Ryu

Chiko

Sogetsu

Ikenobo

Saga Goryu

Wafu Kai

Enshu

In addition to workshops and demonstrations by local teachers, the chapter has sponsored demonstrations by headmasters and grandmasters from the Ikenobo, Kofu, Enshu, Ichiyo, Chiko, Ohara, Sogetsu, and Saga Goryu schools.

To learn more about ikebana and to contribute to the governance of Ikebana International, delegates have been sent to regional conferences and world conventions, and the chapter managed the 11th North American Regional Conference in 1988.

Other Chapter Activities

As members continued to participate in ikebana-related activities, they have learned about other arts related to Japanese culture, including the tea ceremony (Omote Senke and Ura Senke), silk painting, kimono dressing, koto music (Sawai Koto School), and sumi-e brush painting. Chapter members have enjoyed Japanese cooking lessons; attended holiday parties, and listened to the Salvation Army Children’s Choir. They have gone on bus trips and attended martial arts demonstrations. They have learned about pottery and fabrics; kabuki costumes; bonsai and Bankei; silk painting and origami; and folk dances and wood block prints. They were taught how to wrap gifts and how to preserve weathered wood.

Members have listened to presentations from the San Diego Zoo’s Animal and Training Care program, the San Diego Water Department on drought tolerant plants and San Diego’s Pure Water Project, Armstrong Nursery on xeriscape landscaping, and the Japanese Friendship Garden’s future expansion plans.

THE CHAPTER’S FUTURE

Under the guidance of successive boards and many volunteers, the chapter has prospered. The shared knowledge and abilities of the many teachers of ikebana and related arts have helped chapter members grow, flourish, and mature.

The 50 years of the chapter have been productive, memorable, and enjoyable. The future of the chapter is unlimited, as it looks forward to new opportunities in sharing the art and friendship of ikebana.